Free BirthMark by Sydney Addae

looked at Jasmine with a grimace. “Detective Jenkins is turning out to be a royal pain in my ass. He’s got the Merriweather’s thinking the Patron was somehow involved in the death of their son. So the police chief can’t close the investigation without serious blow-back right now. I told the chief, Jenkins is not permitted on our property without a warrant and the chief agreed.”
    Jasmine sat in one of the smaller leather chairs facing Rose. “Didn’t Silas read Jenkins?”
    “I don’t know,” Rose said. “Did he?”
    “ Silas did you read Jenkins?” Jasmine asked through their link.
    “ Yes, why?”
    “ Rose just talked to the police chief and Jenkins is stirring up a pot of mess with the family of the dead guy. What’d you find?”
    “ He’s a breed but his wolf’s sick. I’ve got some things in the works to deal with Jenkins.”
    “ Hmmm, you might want to step it up because he’s gunning for you.”
    “ Who isn’t these days?”
    Jasmine didn’t have an answer for that and left it alone. Instead, she sent a wave of warmth through their link to remind him he wasn’t alone. She was glad he had Tyrone and Tyrese to help him with some of the madness.
    “Jenkins is a half-breed,” she told Rose.
    “What?” Rose jerked back, her eyes widening. Frowning, she said. “I didn’t smell his wolf.”
    Jasmine shrugged, glad she lacked that ability. “Silas said the wolf’s sick.” Her thoughts traveled to the women in lockup. Silas didn’t want anyone to know the things they’d discussed. But her spidey senses were tingling, something was off about that entire conversation with Siseria. She couldn’t put her fingers on it and it was going to drive her crazy until she figured it out. She needed to find a spot to listen to Julie and Siseria’s conversations. Julie would be back in the cell soon, she needed to get situated before that happened.
    “I need a room to listen on the women downstairs. I left a bug in the chair.”
    “You didn’t have to do that,” Rose said. “Those rooms have audio and video in place. I can set you up in a secure spot where you’ll be comfy. Have you had lunch?” Rose asked, rifling through a steel box of what sounded like keys.
    “No, not yet.” Jasmine wondered why Silas hadn’t mentioned the surveillance equipment before. Not that she told him she planned to leave the listening device Tyrese had given her yesterday, but he could’ve listened and watched the monitors instead of through their link.
    “I’ll have the kitchen prepare you, what? Sandwich? Salad? Pizza?” Rose stood, holding a ring of keys.
    “Club sandwich and some of those sweet potato fries with a bottle of water will be good, thanks. I appreciate it,” she answered, standing as well.
    Rose tapped the small device in her ear and placed Jasmine’s lunch order as they stepped into the hall and headed toward the elevator. It always amazed Jasmine how certain rooms in this wing were warm, comfortable and inviting, and others areas were cold, sterile. The moment they turned the corner, the hallways changed. There were no pictures on the walls, no wallpaper, instead, a pearl gray paint coated the plaster and concrete floors. It felt like walking in a time capsule.
    Rose glanced over her shoulder at Jasmine. “I stopped by the nursery and saw Rone holding Jackie, he’s a natural. We want to have a litter once he settles this Challenge. I’m a bit nervous.” She licked her lips and looked at Jasmine just as the elevator arrived.
    They stepped in and pushed the button for the level above the tunnels. “Silas chose Rone to be Alpha of West Virginia, that means he has faith Rone can do the job. I have confidence in them both.” She said, hoping she hit the right tone with the right amount of assurance, because it took everything within her to believe those words.
    Rose visibly relaxed and smiled.
    Relieved, Jasmine breathed through the tightness in her chest. “This way.” Rose pointed